Duration
10h Pr
Number of credits
| Bachelor in psychology and education : general | 1 crédit |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The teaching unit "Introduction to scientific research" is not a traditional course. Instead, it revolves around the "Participant Pool" system of our Faculty of Psychology, Speech Therapy, and Education Sciences (FPLSE). The "Participant Pool" aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore the field of scientific research by contributing as direct participants.
Following their participation in the studies, students must attend group debriefing sessions where they will be introduced to research methodologies, statistical analysis techniques, and the fundamental ethical principles underlying research in the social sciences. Specifically, seven key concepts related to scientific research have been identified: the research context; the formulation of the conceptual research question and its hypotheses; the identification of the study type; the operationalization of the research; potential biases; ethical issues; and the interpretation and communication of results.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The objectives of the course "Introduction to Scientific Research" are as follows:
- Introduce students to the world of scientific research.
- Master seven fundamental concepts related to scientific research.
- Strengthen knowledge of cross-disciplinary subjects related to scientific research (psychostatistics, research methodology, etc.).
- Become aware of the contributions and applicability of these cross-disciplinary subjects.
- Refine one's understanding of psychology/speech therapy and the role of scientific research within their education.
At the end of the course "Introduction to Scientific Research," the student will be able to:
- Grasp the essential foundations of scientific research, enabling a better understanding and engagement in this field in the future.
- Develop a clearer vision of the importance of scientific research and the applicability of cross-disciplinary subjects in psychology/speech therapy.
- Make concrete connections between courses taken and the methods of research in psychology.
- Identify the link(s) between scientific research in psychology/speech therapy and its clinical application to ensure high-quality clinical/speech therapy practice.
- Distinguish the various professional opportunities possible/envisioned after training in psychology and speech therapy.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The Introduction to Scientific Research does not require strict prerequisites. However, it is highly encouraged to approach this course with a critical mindset, a willingness to question information, and also to demonstrate autonomy.
Additionally, closely following the simultaneous courses in psychostatistics and methodological foundations will allow students to deepen their understanding of the concepts and optimize their engagement in this course.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The learning activities of this course are designed to offer students practical immersion in the field of scientific research. The course begins with an informational session at the start of the year, followed by hands-on activities in three key stages throughout the year:
1. Participation in studies as a participant: Students will have the opportunity to engage directly in studies conducted by FPLSE researchers. These studies cover topics related to their academic program. By participating, students experience research firsthand and interact with researchers, helping them to better understand the concepts covered in other cross-disciplinary subjects related to research.
2. Logbook - Assignments: After participating in the studies, students complete homework assignments for the educational debriefing sessions they have registered for. These assignments include in-depth reflections and questions on the seven concepts related to the study they participated in. These mandatory assignments are recorded in the logbook on the course's e-campus platform, providing students with the chance to consolidate their knowledge and deepen their understanding of the topics studied.
3. Educational debriefings (in small groups): Students then engage in interactive discussions with researchers and peers. They are required to register for a total of three sessions throughout the year, depending on their interest in the study they just participated in. These mandatory sessions are led by the researchers responsible for the studies and provide an interactive setting to discuss their experiences, responses to the questions/assignments, and overall reflections. Students can share their perspectives, compare their ideas with those of other participants, and collaborate with researchers to deepen their understanding of fundamental concepts related to research in psychology.
For students who prefer not to participate in studies as participants, an alternative is provided. They can choose to read scientific articles published within our Faculty. After reading, they must complete an analytical assignment (equivalent to the assignments for study participants), followed by an interactive educational debriefing with the course instructors.
This learning process takes place throughout the year, spanning from early October to late May.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Blended learning
Further information:
The information session at the beginning of the year will be held in person. Another information session will take place at the start of the second semester.
Regarding the practical activities, registration for studies is done via the management platform "SONA System." (1) Through SONA, students will have the opportunity to sign up for studies, whether online or in person. (2) The assignments, on the other hand, will be completed at home through the logbook integrated into the e-campus space of the "Introduction to Scientific Research" course. (3) Debriefings will be conducted in person.
For those opting for the alternative, reading and analyzing articles will be done at home, and the debriefing will still take place in person.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège
Other site(s) used for course materials
- SONA (https://uliege-fplse.sona-systems.com/default.aspx?logout=Y)
Further information:
There are no recommended or required readings.
However, empirical articles from the alternative option will be provided to students by the course instructors.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Continuous assessment
Further information:
For this course, students must first have participated in research studies and debriefings throughout the year. If the required number of tokens (participation tokens for studies and debriefings) is obtained, they are granted access to the exam.
The first part, therefore, involves participation in studies and debriefings from the participant pool. Students will receive tokens based on the time invested (1 participation token corresponds to approximately 1 hour of participation in a study, and each debriefing grants 0.5 tokens). Researchers award these tokens once the student has taken part in the study and/or debriefing. As a reminder, each student must participate in three debriefings (and thus obtain 1.5 debriefing tokens by the end of the year). In order for the tokens to be awarded, the student must have completed the assigned task and attended the debriefing for which they registered. In other words, no token will be granted for the debriefing if the student has not completed the task or has not attended the debriefing. The number of tokens to be obtained is set at the beginning of the year, and all tokens must be acquired to gain access to the exam. The deadline for acquiring these participation credits is announced at the start of the year.
The second part, graded out of 20 points, constitutes the final grade. It consists of a final written exam, which takes place in June. The written exam is open, allowing students to use their logbook. The exam will be contextualized by a scenario involving a student's participation in a study and will consist of a methodological and statistical reflection based on the 7 fundamental concepts. A second session will be organized for students who fail this exam. It is important to note that no activities to earn tokens will be organized during the summer. The second session exam (with the same format as in June) will only be accessible to students who had access to the first session exam but failed it.
It is important to emphasize that there are participation rules to follow to avoid logistical issues and, above all, to respect the work of the researchers. The details regarding these rules, as well as the penalties for absences or tardiness, are available in the regulations accessible in the course's e-campus space and presented during the introductory session. Note that absences or tardiness will automatically result in exclusion from the SONA platform and lead to failure of the course "Introduction to Scientific Research."
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
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